Speed Review: Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover

I love the convenience of cleansing waters as a quick and effective way of removing my makeup at night and whilst I'm a fan of the cult Bioderma, it can be difficult to find in the UK so I'm always intrigued to try out more readily available alternatives.

 

I've recently been trying Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover, which is available in Boots, despite also being a French pharmacy staple.
On first impressions, I liked the packaging, which features a frosted plastic bottle in a box, making it feel more expensive than it is. There's an expiration date on the base which I appreciated and I also liked the functionality of the flip top dispenser. The name- Micellar Lotion (usually referred to as a solution)- could be a little misleading, this is a cleansing water in the same vein as Bioderma and such like, with a liquid texture.
As with all cleansing waters, Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover was easy to use. It felt refreshing on the skin and removed my makeup effectively, although I had to use quite a few soaked cotton wool pads to remove full coverage makeup. Whilst it helped to dislodge my eye makeup, it wasn't wholly effective. Having said this, I'm yet to find a cleansing water which allows me to completely forgo a separate eye makeup remover (& I don't use waterproof mascara). There is a delicate fragrance and whilst I didn't find this offensive, I'd have preferred it without.
As with all cleansing waters, Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover isn't intended to be rinsed off. However, I found that it left a noticeable tacky residue on my skin and this could be off-putting to some. It didn't cause any irritation to my sensitive skin (it is aimed at sensitive skin) but I wasn't impressed with the ingredients which includes dimethicone, amongst others that I'd rather not see.
At £12.50 for 200ml, Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover is comparable in price to similar products and whilst it's an ok product, I simply didn't get on with this as well as with other cleansing waters I've tried.